The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by "open access" vessels (i.e. those vessels not fishing in cooperatives, which are catching pollock for processing by the inshore component). This prohibition is effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 3, 2000, until 12 noon, A.l.t., August 20, 2000, according to James Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary because the C season inside SCA allocation of pollock total allowable catch specified for the non co-op vessels within the SCA will be reached and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.22(a)(11)(iv)(A) and (C)(3).
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
This information bulletin provides notice of a regulatory change. Do not rely upon it to guide you in complying with the regulatory change.
IB 00-56: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pollock by "Open Access" Vessels in the SCA of the BSAI
June 30, 2000 - 2:15 p.m.
Notice of a fishery management action.
